Brett allows himself a brief glimpse of beach cocktails and then Paris

By Pat McLeod

For the first time in decades elite trainer Tony Brett’s immediate thoughts are not totally focused on greyhound racing.

As most of his Queensland peer group concentrate on the state sprint and distance finals on Thursday night at Albion Park, Brett allows his mind to wonder, if only momentarily.

He and wife Fleur fly out to their dream holiday to Paris next Tuesday.

“We have a day’s stop-over on the way over in Dubai,” he says.

“We will just be finding a cabana lounge on a beach somewhere and it will be a case of ‘just keep bringing cocktails until the money runs out’. That’s when we will take a deep breath.”

Brett has a runner, Panama Pepper, in Thursday night’s Queensland National Sprint Final over 520 metres. 

That dog will be prepared to the second, but with a purposely reduced kennel, just the one active race dog at the moment, the meticulous mentor can allow his mind to stray.

“It is so exciting,” he says of the month-long European holiday.

“This is something we have always talked and dreamt about. It might be just a holiday and it is only to Europe and people do it all the time.

“But, when you are not used to it and when you are used to the everyday grind of just doing the dogs. When the most you have been able to take is a three-day break and every five years you like pinch a week, well this is special. With only the three dogs in the kennels now I won't have to worry about the phone calls. I can switch off.

“It might take me a while just to do that, but it will do the world of good to my head space. It will give me a freshen up and it is just great to get excited again. It (greyhound training) has all become a bit run-of-the-mill at the moment.

“We will never leave the industry. But, the way we do it will change. We won't do the big numbers again.”

Brett’s ‘kennel-change’ isn’t new news. He made that plain when his Orchestrate stormed to victory in the Group 1 Brisbane Cup this time last year.

Since then, in classic Brett style, his plan to down-size has been careful, strategic and successful.

He has reduced from 20-plus high-end racers to just three - Panama Pepper and the injured Just A Sort and Panama Canal.

When he and Fleur return, rejuvenated, he will gradually build to the desired formula – six to eight permanents and then room for about seven all-star visitors for when the Queensland summer and winter carnivals come around.

“We have a kennel block of 15,” he explains.

“I just have to have room in the kennels for when the carnivals come along for people to send dogs to me. I will not get back into the grind of having 20 dogs every day. I hope the trainers still support me.

“But, I'm not stressed about when we get home and needing a team straight away. I will try to get a few back in before Christmas. Then there’s the January carnival. 

“The new track will have a big effect on what happens. I will be happy just to potter along for a little bit instead of diving straight in and building a team up straight away.”

Of Thursday night’s state sprint Final, Brett has a sobering thought pattern before Dubai’s cocktails.

“I feel that in this race we are all running for a place, except for Jay Is Jay,” he predicts, referring to Selena Zammit’s track record holder who will exit from box one.

“Panama Pepper is a really good dog and can run the times that would win a race like this. But, the eight is terrible. He is an inside draw dog, without a doubt."

Depending on Thursday night’s result, Brett said Panama Pepper would then be sent to Melbourne for the Nationals at The Meadows on Saturday, August 26 or head north for the Townsville Cup. 

Either way Brett will be handing the lead to a trusted lieutenant as Paris beckons.

In Thursday night’s other ‘major’, the Queensland National Distance Final over 710 metres, veteran mentor Ned Snow will take charge of the very promising Locked On Scotch.

The Hooked On Scotch - Neytiri Queen chaser confirmed his distance credentials with a close second to Palawa King in the recent Group 1 Queensland Cup over 710 metres in just his second start over that distance.

“I definitely believe the dog has plenty of potential in distance racing,” he said.

“He is only young. His biggest asset is that he has plenty of early speed. If you are out in front then you are out of any trouble that might happen behind.

“He is already strong over the 700 metres, but I believe he will become a lot stronger. I also have no doubt his best racing is in his future."

Snow has been a fan of Locked On Scotch for very good reasons.

“Having a look at Thursday night's Final, I believe Sorority (box eight and trained by Jedda Cutlack), who has early speed as well, will likely push Locked On Scotch (box seven). I believe my dog will probably lead and hopefully lead all the way," Snow said. 

“It is a good, solid field, but I believe Locked On Scotch will go well. I have never had a dog in the Nationals Finals before. So, like any big race, it would be good to be part of it. If he wins, the state and Nationals, it certainly would be great for the dog and for his owners.”

Coming out of box two is last year’s Queensland Nationals representative, Days Of Thunder (Warren Nicholls).